true peace is the presence of justice...

you're invited to the big easy!

2010-03-28T09:06:00.002-05:00

it's right around the corner so mark your calendars!...join human rights activists and organizers from April 9 - 11th in new orleans for this annual gathering of human rights supporters, experts and activists from across the globe... this year's all rights for all people conference is going to be big! amazing speakers - including gloria steinem, bernice johnson reagon, and alice walker...

guantanamo - new zip code, no human rights...

2010-03-24T18:11:00.005-05:00

yo yo yo yo peeps...there are troubling rumors flying around washington that president obama is on the verge of cutting a political deal with enator lindsey graham (r-sc)...the president is actually considering rolling back attorney general eric holder's decision to prosecute terror suspects using fair trials in u.s. federal court...the result would mean that while the guantanamo prison facility

roxana saberi freed...

2010-03-22T06:36:00.005-05:00

amnesty international reports that american-iranian journalist roxana waberi was freed from prison in iran... roxana had been given an eight-year prison sentence on trumped up charges of “espionage” following a brief closed door trial in tehran last month...aqmnesty international had issued an urgent action calling for her release...over 26,000 messages were sent by amnesty activists to the

women in united states dying to give birth...

2010-03-21T11:49:00.005-05:00

amnesty international released a startling new report that details the horrific tragedy behind maternal death rates among american women...the awful truth behind the shocking numbers is that at least half of these deaths could have been prevented...women in the united states are more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than in 40 other countries...more than half of these deaths occur within

help protect civilians in the drc...

2008-11-26T05:43:00.007-06:00

the situation in the democratic republic of congo (sic) remains on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe...the priority at the moment is reinforcing the capacity of the u.n.'s peacekeeping force, monuc to protect civilians and to ensure people have access to humanitarian assistance... the following days are crucial as the u.n. security council is expected to vote on boosting the peacekeepers

neither violence against women nor poverty are inevitable...

2008-11-25T05:46:00.005-06:00

below irene khan, amnesty international writes about the links between violence against women and poverty to mark the international day for the elimination of violence against women... as women around the world come together to celebrate the start of the 16 days of activism against gender violence, violence against women remains endemic in many forms, in all societies...just last month,

obama's 100 day challenge...

2008-11-24T06:15:00.010-06:00

talk of change is good...sunday a week ago, president-elect obama stated in an interview on cbs that he will follow through with his commitment to close Guantanamo... in the hope of turning words into actions, amnesty international is calling on president-elect barack obama to take concrete steps in his first 100 days in office...this means: announce a plan and date to

ensure that suspected war criminals in darfur are investigated by the international criminal court...

2008-11-10T05:55:00.004-06:00

the crisis in darfur...you remember darfur, don't you?well, sending mixed messages can only make things worse for the people of darfur...yet the u.s. government, my government led by the bush administration, has chosen to play with fire...sudanese president omar al-bashir may never have to answer for his alleged crimes if the investigation against him is suspended...but you can ensure justice

help free a prisoner of conscience...register today for the global write-a-thon...

2008-11-09T08:33:00.004-06:00

why do we do what we do???consider...a mother in the congo fights against a military responsible for assaulting her children...a priest in eritrea is humiliated - stripped of his role in the church by a government violating basic laws and principles...a teacher in myanmar is serving life in prison simply for criticizing the authorities...so what can you do???well, stories like these deserve

president-elect obama: 100 days to demonstrate commitment to human rights...

2008-11-07T05:44:00.004-06:00

the election of barack obama to the u.s. presidency opens new opportunities for an end to the seven-year assault on human rights by the u.s. administration...amnesty international urged u.s. president-elect obama to make human rights central to his new administration on wednesday...the organization is calling for certain concrete steps in his first 100 days in office that would demonstrate a

a new era for human rights in the united states...

2008-11-06T06:29:00.004-06:00

over the weekend in memphis i had a few opportunities to chat with amnesty international usa's executive director larry cox...the great thing about larry is that amnesty is an action, activist organization and he gets it...he understands what we need to do in order to grow a broad-based, vibrant and vital grassroots human rights movement in the united states...amnesty is a non-partisan

civil and human rights: keeping the dream alive II...

2008-11-05T06:26:00.005-06:00

on monday i shared with you the memphis aerial photography event that was the culmination of this year's amnesty international southern regional conference...well here's the photo and go check out videos from the event here...peace out <3

isolated and abused: women migrant domestic workers in jordan...

2008-11-04T06:26:00.004-06:00

tens of thousands of women migrant domestic workers in jordan face isolation, exploitation and abuse, with little or no protection from the state...migrant domestic workers are crucial to the economy in jordan, contributing to the well-being of the households where they work and providing vital incomes for their own families and communities...many face exploitation and abuse: many work 16 to 19

keeping the dream alive in memphis, tn...

2008-11-03T06:31:00.003-06:00

despite all setbacks challenging our basic freedoms and fundamental rights, somehow we continue to keep the dream alive... on sunday, yesterday, nov. 2, i was part of an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 people who came together in tom lee memorial park on the banks of the mighty mississippi river in memphis, tn to create an aerial image of dr. martin luther king jr...,the event was a

Weary refugees are trying to reach home

2008-10-31T21:09:00.003-05:00

in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid a fragile cease-fire. They have been caught between the government and Laurent Nkunda's rebel movement.The conflict is fueled by left-over tensions from Rwandan genocide. Nkunda claims that the government has not done enough to protect Tutsis from the Hutu militia that fled to the Congo at the end of the war. It's believed that all sides are funded by

u.n. discusses crucial step on economic, social and cultural rights...

2008-10-30T06:18:00.004-05:00

the u.n. general assembly will this month discuss taking a crucial step to secure access to justice for everyone whose economic, social and cultural rights are violated and who is denied a remedy at the national level...in the coming weeks, u.n. member states convening in new york at the general assembly session will consider the adoption of an international instrument – the optional protocol to

take action: demand proper protection of womens’ rights in sonora state, mexico...

2008-10-27T05:39:00.004-05:00

one in four women in mexico has suffered physical, and sometimes sexual, violence at the hands of their partner...thousands are put at risk of repeated abuse because weak or ineffective protection measures fail to ensure their safety...domestic violence can have physical, psychological, and emotional effects, as well as serious economic and social consequences on women and their families.

in final days before troy davis execution date, concerned public worldwide demands action ...

2008-10-24T05:50:00.003-05:00

as the scheduled execution date for troy anthony davis fast approaches, national and international support for davis is on the rise, with the public demonstrating its outrage over the refusal to hear evidence in davis’ favor...amnesty international has mobilized its worldwide membership during its “global days of action for troy davis” from now through oct. 27...to date, rallies are scheduled to

victory: contested land in brazil handed to state...

2008-10-23T06:20:00.004-05:00

a long standing land dispute in brazil between landless workers movements and a swiss multinational, which led to the deaths of two men, has been brought to a conclusion...agrochemical business syngenta has handed over its experimental farm in paraná state to the state government, marking an end to violent conflict over the site...syngenta gave the land to the paraná state government on 14

zimbabwe activists beaten, arrested and detained...

2008-10-22T06:21:00.004-05:00

the leaders of one of zimbabwe's main activist movements have been remanded in custody by the courts in bulawayo since friday...jenni williams and magodonga mahlangu, leaders of women of zimbabwe arise (woza), were arrested on thursday in bulawayo after leading a peaceful protest of about 200 activists demanding immediate access to food aid in zimbabwe...police used excessive force to break up

iran ends child offender executions!

2008-10-21T06:15:00.004-05:00

iran is currently the only country in the world known to have executed a juvenile offender in 2008...on october 16, hossein zabhi, assistant attorney general for judicial affairs in iran announced that he had instructed all courts to cease the execution of juvenile offenders...many thanks to the thousands of amnesty and other activists whose action helped end this terrible practice!read about

poverty day to address human rights and dignity...

2008-10-20T06:29:00.005-05:00

"Change cannot be realised if people cannot be given time to express themselves and talk of the problems they are facing."- Michael Nyangi, Kibera, Nairobi -this year's international day for the eradication of poverty is a call to everyone, from policy makers to the public, to recognise the rights and dignity of people living in poverty...amnesty international, other ngos, civil society

An excellent article from the Reuters Foundation

2008-10-17T21:58:00.002-05:00

MILLIONS UPROOTED BY FEAR AND VIOLENCERefugees are often in the headlines yet the reality of their lives is frequently misunderstood.Tens of millions of people have been uprooted from their homes because of violence or persecution.But not all these people are refugees. Villagers in Sudan's violent Darfur region who have fled to camps within Darfur are strictly speaking known as internally

civil liberties - not throwing the baby out with the bath water...

2008-10-17T09:19:00.003-05:00

the house of lords rejected proposals on monday that would allow the period of pre-charge detention in terrorism cases to be extended up to 42 days...amnesty international welcomed the house of lords’ vote, by 309 votes to 118, and called on the u.k. government to respond by abandoning once and for all these misconceived proposals...said david edwards, amnesty international researcher on the u.k.

last rites? -- supreme court refuses to hear troy davis appeal!

2008-10-16T06:25:00.003-05:00

an execution warrant has been issued for troy davis for the week of october 27...this follows the refusal on tuesday by the u.s. supreme court to hear troy davis' appeal...the court had been asked to rule whether the death penalty is barred for an individual with a strong claim of innocence...by refusing to hear this case, the supreme court clearly demonstrates the immorality of the death penalty

once is never enough - turkey expels refugees for second time...

2008-10-15T06:20:00.003-05:00

turkish law enforcement officials have expelled the same group of uzbekistani refugees into Iranian territory for the second time in one month...at least twenty-four uzbekistani nationals are believed to have been rounded up by turkish police in van in eastern turkey on saturday and taken to an unknown location...despite the efforts of human rights organisations in turkey throughout saturday

satellite images reveal civilian victims...

2008-10-14T06:24:00.005-05:00

"We were just civilians. They must have made a mistake--why else would they bomb us?" —A man from Karbi, South Ossetia, describing the bombing of his village — the evidence is clear...new images released today by amnesty international usa reveal that all parties to the conflict between georgia and russia committed serious human rights violations... photographs from satellites and

amnesty international salutes nobel peace laureate, 2008...

2008-10-13T06:26:00.003-05:00

amnesty international today paid tribute to martti ahtisaari, the winner of this year’s nobel peace prize, recognized for his important work around the world in conflict resolution in places where grave human rights abuses were taking place... “We welcome and celebrate the decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Martti Ahtisaari,” said. This recognises the great work he has done to resolve

pro-democracy activists in syria face 15 years in prison...

2008-10-10T06:24:00.004-05:00

twelve pro-democracy activists, currently on trial in syria, face up to 15 years in prison for calling for democratic reform and respect for human rights...the activists were arrested in december 2007 and january 2008, after taking part in a meeting of the broad-based opposition coalition, the damascus declaration for democratic national change (dddnc)...tens of other participants were arrested

in case you missed this temporary good news on t davis...

2008-10-09T06:27:00.004-05:00

just two hours before troy davis was to be executed on september 23, the u.s. supreme court issued a stay of execution to consider his appeal...their decision is expected very soon...this followed a stunning refusal by the georgia board of pardons and paroles to grant clemency in this case...mr. davis' serious claims of innocence, which include the recantation of 7 out of 9 witnesses, have never

moroccan blogger freed...

2008-10-08T05:48:00.005-05:00

on 18 september 2008, the court of appeal in agadir, morocco, overturned the two-year sentence imposed on blogger mohamed erraji by the court of first instance for "lack of respect for the king,"...the court dropped all charges against him on the grounds of procedural irregularities in the previous trial...amnesty international has welcomed the decision by the court of appeal...the

southern regional conference: our rights, our history, our ision...

2008-10-07T05:45:00.004-05:00

40 years ago, dr. king went to memphis to support black sanitation workers organizing for just labor conditions...tragically, he was assassinated there, but his legacy and our human rights movement continues...king knew that for people to have dignity, they needed all their rights-not just civil rights, but also economic rights... 60 years ago, the universal declaration of human rights was

no truth, no justice 40 years after mexico city massacre...

2008-10-06T06:31:00.004-05:00

forty years ago, the mexican army opened fire on students peacefully demonstrating in tlatelolco, mexico city, on 2 october 1968...estimates vary on how many people were killed, but the massacre remains one of the worst incidents of mass killing in mexico’s history...1968 was a year where students and activists around the world rose up to change their reality and, in many places, they clashed

update: u.n. promises for human rights...

2008-10-03T06:31:00.004-05:00

nearly 200 people came out during the u.n. general assembly (ny) to remind u.n. member states of their commitment to protect the people of darfur...despite previous promises made by the u.n. security council and many u.n. member states to provide enough resources to darfur, critical equipment is lacking and not even half of the approved troops are on the ground...every day u.n. member states

call on prime minister of bosnia and herzegovina to protect sarajevo lgbt community...

2008-10-02T06:22:00.004-05:00

the first sarajevo queer festival began on 24 september 2008...it included exhibitions, performances, public discussions and films...however, the attacks at the end of the first day left eight people injured and forced the organizers, a non-governmental organization udruzenje q, to close the rest of the festival to the public and eventually cancel the whole event...in the run-up to the festival,

it's said to be a theatrical masterpiece...

2008-10-01T06:27:00.003-05:00

it's said to be a theatrical masterpiece...friday & saturday, october 17 & 18 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.capital hill arts workshop545 seventh st, sewashington, dcthe improbable bravery and beauty of survivors of torture in abu ghraib prison is told through the artistic eyes of jennifer schelter using the medium of yoga...from real life interviews of iraqi detainees, jennifer has created a powerful

law used against housing activists in cambodia...

2008-09-30T06:19:00.004-05:00

some 150,000 cambodians live at risk of being forcibly evicted in the wake of land disputes, land grabbing and agro-industrial and urban redevelopment projects in 2008...tens of thousands have already been forcibly evicted in recent years, many left homeless, others relocated to inadequate resettlement sites with poor infrastructure, lacking basic amenities including sanitation, and with limited

eight injured as sarajevo queer festival attacked...

2008-09-29T06:27:00.004-05:00

several people were attacked at the end of the first day of the sarajevo queer festival on wednesday...eight people, policemen included, were reported to have been injured after dozens of young men attacked visitors to festival...according to the organizers of the four-day event police allowed anti-gay protestors to get too close to the venue thus endangering the participants...the festival,

inquest into death of jean charles de menezes opens in london...

2008-09-26T06:12:00.004-05:00

the family of jean charles de menezes will at last have the chance to get answers to their questions about the events leading to his death, in the course of the coroner’s inquest which opened in london on monday...on 22 july 2005, the day after a series of attempted bomb attacks on public transport in london, plain clothes officers of the metropolitan police shot dead jean charles de menezes...

amnesty international praises stay of execution for troy davis...

2008-09-25T06:29:00.004-05:00

amnesty international usa (aiusa) welcomed the order from the supreme court of the united states to stay the execution of troy anthony davis hours before his scheduled execution...the state of georgia scheduled davis’ execution for today, in effect circumventing the u.s. supreme court before it had time to decide whether its justices would consider davis’ case...larry cox, executive director for

one of myanmar's longest serving political prisoners released...

2008-09-24T06:08:00.004-05:00

one of myanmar's longest serving political prisoners was released on tuesday along with at least six other prisoners of conscience...u win tin, a 78-year-old journalist, prominent dissident and senior official in the main opposition national league for democracy (nld) party, led by daw aung san suu kyi, had been imprisoned for 19 years...the fate of the other estimated 2,100 political prisoners

2008-09-23T17:35:00.005-05:00

Georgia has granted a temporary reprieve for Troy Davis. Find his story here.

celebs, activists Issue joint call for human rights...

2008-09-23T06:23:00.004-05:00

hooray for hollywood...just last week director paul haggis and actor mark ruffalo joined with amnesty international to urge the closing of guantanamo bay...this was the press advisory issued for last saturday's event...Los Angeles–Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) will bring its national tour of a life-size Guantanamo prison cell replica to Santa Monica, California, starting Thursday, Sept. 18,

japan should adopt death penalty moratorium...

2008-09-22T06:26:00.003-05:00

just 11 days ago three men were executed in japan on -- thursday 11 september...amnesty international has called for the government to immediately adopt a moratorium on executions...the humnan rights organization called on new japanese minister of justice yasuoka okiharu to conduct a thorough re-examination of the country's death penalty policy after three sixty plusyear old men - mantani

Ghosts at the Border

2008-09-20T14:55:00.004-05:00

On September 15th of last year, the New York Times reported briefly on the death of Felicitas Martinaz Barradas, a woman who died trying to cross the border from Mexico to Arizona by way of the Sonoran Desert. This is a frequent route for those making their way into the United States and it is fraught with injury and death. Those traveling with her report that before she died, a smuggler gave

moroccan blogger jailed for peacefully expressing his views...

2008-09-17T06:30:00.004-05:00

on monday 8 september, a moroccan man became the first blogger to be sentenced to two years imprisonment...mohamed erraji was also fined 5,000 dirhams (US$625) for “lack of respect due to the king”...he is not the first moroccan to be jailed for peacefully expressing his views on the monarchy, which is still a “taboo” subject in morocco...on 11 september 2008, the defence’s request to

amnesty international condemns parole board decision to allow the execution of troy davis...

2008-09-16T06:21:00.004-05:00

amnesty international (aiusa) hyas condemned in the strongest possible terms the decision to deny clemency to troy anthony davis...the human rights organization, after attending last friday’s clemency hearing, called the decision a baffling and unbelievable perversion of justice...jared feuer, southern regional director for amnesty international usa, who attended the clemency hearing said:“Nobody

global week of action to support arms trade treaty...

2008-09-15T06:32:00.004-05:00

activists and supporters of the control arms campaign in more than 50 countries will be taking part in the arms trade treaty (att) week of action which started this past saturday 13 september...the world is watching week will see campaigners urge their governments to reach an agreement on an effective arms trade treaty as quickly as possible...u.n. member states will consider such negotiations at

peter gabriel named ambassador of conscience at launch of global tour...

2008-09-14T08:19:00.004-05:00

peter gabriel was honoured with the 2008 ambassador of conscience (aoc) award in london on wednesday 10 september, at the launch of amnesty international's global music and human rights project, the small places tour...the event, held at the hard rock cafe, outlined a preliminary list of 545 small places concerts (that could grow in excess of 1000 events) in 50 countries...the musician and human

clemency denied for troy davis!

2008-09-13T08:49:00.004-05:00

many of us who know this case and know this man are crushed...in the face of an overwhelming public outcry the georgia board of pardons and paroles shockingly refused to grant clemency to troy davis on friday... mr. davis' serious claims of innocence, which include the recantation of 7 out of 9 witnesses, have never been heard in court...further, no murder weapon was found and no physical

Refugee, 9, dies from injuries sustained in Al Tanf

2008-09-12T17:57:00.005-05:00

The death of a nine-year old Palestinian refugee on September 10th highlights the continuing danger in Al Tanf, a refugee camp located on the Iraq-Syria border. He died late Tuesday afternoon in an ambulance after being struck by a truck. The Baghdad-Damascus highway runs past the settlement and the young refugee, Mohamed Kamal Ibrahim, is not the first child to be killed by a vehicle on this

new pakistani president must improve human rights...

2008-09-10T06:32:00.004-05:00

with the swearing in of pakistan's president, asif ali zardari, the pakistani government should act immediately to reverse the country's human rights record...the human rights organization amnesty international urged mr zardari and his party's government to:reveal the fate of hundreds of victims of "enforced disappearances" reinstate all the judges illegally deposed by former president pervez

amnesty cites use of force against rnc protesters as disproportionate...

2008-09-09T06:27:00.003-05:00

amnesty international announced its concern through allegations of excessive use of force and mass arrests by police at demonstrations in st. paul, minnesota during the republican national convention (rnc) from september 1-4, 2008...the human rights organization is calling on the city and county authorities to ensure that all allegations of ill-treatment and other abuses are impartially

the u.n. counter-terrorism review should make human rights a priority...

2008-09-08T05:34:00.004-05:00

as the united nations general assembly (unga) conducts the first major review of its global counter-terrorism strategy, an amnesty international report shows how governments have so far failed to uphold the strategy's human rights standards...adopted on 8 september 2006, the u.n. strategy was the first global attempt to agree on a set of practical action points to combat terrorism...in the

Gori, Georgia

2008-09-05T19:56:00.004-05:00

The world remains watchful of the situation in Georgia, especially as refugees begin to try to return home. One city, Gori, is exhausted from the effort of containing displaced persons within its shelter's borders. Most of the refugees come from the "buffer zone" between Gori and the South Ossetian border. Some of the latest arrivals from a town called Beloti are telling stories of harrassment

troy davis' powerful claims of innocence may never be heard by the courts...

2008-09-05T05:50:00.003-05:00

troy davis is scheduled to be executed by the state of georgia on september 23, even though his serious claims of innocence have never been heard in court... the case has been tainted from the start, with a questionable police investigation, a lack of funding to ensure adequate defense, and an increasingly restrictive appeals process, which has thwarted attempts to present new evidence

there's a need for comprehensive justice across the former yugoslavia...

2008-09-04T06:26:00.004-05:00

as the trial of radovan karadzic at the international criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia (icty) in the hague resumes, his prosecution is undoubtedly a huge step forward towards bringing justice to the tens of thousands of victims of bosnia and herzegovina...but are a small number of high profile trials in the hague enough to heal the wounds caused by the horrific violations of human

protest launches tour against enforced disappearance in pakistan...

2008-09-03T05:38:00.004-05:00

yo yo yo - follow-up blog: the peeps over at amnesty international called on the pakistan government to reveal the fate and whereabouts of hundreds of disappeared people, amid international protests to mark the 25th international day of the disappeared on saturday 30 august...amina janjua, the founder of defence of human rights, a aakistani organisation that campaigns for the release of

international day of the disappeared...

2008-09-02T06:28:00.004-05:00

every day, people are abducted or secretly detained by their own governments in an attempt to silence dissenting views... this past saturday, august 30th, we honored the "disappeared" because even though we don't know where they currently are, we remember the people...and why they were taken... there are 41,257 "disappeared" people whose reported cases remain unresolved..

danny glover...a personal friend o' mine...

2008-08-30T09:29:00.002-05:00

so danny glover wrote "me" a letter...peace out <3Dear Randy,Three years ago today, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated. In New Orleans, the vast majority of residents lived in areas damaged by the storm.Every survivor of the hurricane has a human right to return home. But tens of thousands remain displaced, many living in inadequate temporary

iran: end pressure on women’s rights defenders...

2008-08-29T07:48:00.004-05:00

on the second anniversary of the launch of the campaign for equality on 27 august, the good peeps over at amnesty international are renewing its demand that the iranian authorities cease harassing and imprisoning women’s rights defenders and to restrict their campaigning activities for the repeal of laws and policies which discriminate against women in iran...the campaign for equality is a

English Only

2008-08-29T00:54:00.002-05:00

A recent debate has opened up in Nashville again with the reintroduction of the "English Only" bill before the city council. If passed, Nashville would be one of the first in the nation to take such sweeping measures. While Amnesty International does not take an official stand on this issue, we would like to take this time to remind everyone that they come from a grand tradition of immigrants.

three years in the wake of katrina...

2008-08-28T06:26:00.003-05:00

i was north of atlanta at a methodist retreat center wrapping up an amnesty international volunteer leadership training talking with ben, a colleague from nawlins...he was concerned about this storm in the gulf - he called it katrina...i hadn't heard of it yet...well, three years ago this week, hurricane katrina tore through the gulf coast...today, tens of thousands are still trying to pick up

human rights audit: china and ioc must learn from mistakes and uphold human rights values...

2008-08-27T06:54:00.003-05:00

now that the energy of athletic competition has passed it can be said: chinese authorities prioritized image over substance as it continued to persecute and punish activists and journalists during the games...where was bob costas at for that story...it should be added that - and not surprisingly - the international olympic committee (ioc) tarnished the human rights legacy of the olympics by

will president bush remember to mention darfur? -- well will he?

2008-08-26T06:21:00.004-05:00

question: in his last speech to the united nations as president, will president bush remember his commitment to the people of darfur?i dunno but you can call on president bush to reaffirm u.s. commitments to protect the people of darfur during his final speech to the u.n...this september, the united nations general assembly (unga) gathers in new york city...it’s only been a year since u.n.

the observation of international humanitarian law and protection of civilians is essential in south ossetia...

2008-08-25T06:25:00.006-05:00

after nearly coldwaresque dynamics throughout the month of august all sides in the conflict in south ossetia need to take a DEEP breath and agree to fully respect international humanitarian law and as such, to ensure that civilians are protected from hostilities...the same standards must also be respected in other related hostilities reported to be breaking out in the kodori gorge in abkhazia,

Egypt: Deadly Journeys Through the Desert

2008-08-22T18:43:00.005-05:00

"Here it is like war for us and back home it is war also, there is no difference." "We fled from death but death is after us; we don't know what is happening to our relatives back home in camps for the displaced. Staying there would have been better than what happened to us”A Sudanese refugee from the Darfur region who attempted to cross the border of Egypt with Israel and served a one year

sudan holds hundreds without charge after 10 may attack...

2008-08-21T06:17:00.004-05:00

FLASH --- the sudanese government is holding hundreds of people without charge or access to lawyers, following the armed attack on khartoum by the justice and equality movement (jem) on 10 may...the fate and whereabouts of most of those still detained remain unknown...there have also been reports of torture and other ill-treatment from people who were released...amnesty International fears that

civilians vulnerable after hostilities in georgia (the one way over there)...

2008-08-20T06:32:00.003-05:00

after months of increased tension, and recent low-level hostilities, the conflict between georgia and the breakaway region of south ossetia escalated in the early morning of 8 august 2008...the fighting became the most serious confrontation since the civil war between the two was concluded through a truce in 1992...in fighting in the disputed region of south ossetia over the past couple of weeks,

what the frack - shoot on sight orders?

2008-08-19T06:19:00.004-05:00

the government of the indian state of jammu & kashmir needs to fracking rescind the order issued a week ago to authorize security forces to “shoot on sight” in response to communal clashes in the town of kishtwar, oda district...seriously... kishtwar witnessed violent clashes between hindus and muslims on 12 august, where at least two people were killed as a result of alleged police firing...it

major step forward in paraguay's investigations into sexual slavery of girls...

2008-08-18T06:26:00.004-05:00

julia ozorio gamecho is the first woman to tell the truth and justice commission about how she was sexually abused by the military during general alfredo stroessner's regime...read more of her story here...peace out <3

lives of tens of thousands of newly displaced at risk in sri lanka...

2008-08-17T08:49:00.004-05:00

the sri lankan military has launched a major offensive to reclaim areas of the north and east previously controlled by the liberation tigers of tamil eelam (ltte)...families have been multiply displaced...according to unhcr, as of 30 june, there are some 467,000 individuals displaced by conflict in sri lanka’s north and east..this figure includes an estimated 194,900 persons who were displaced

the ongoing collective punishment in gaza...

2008-08-15T06:30:00.004-05:00

a humanitarian crisis continues to engulf gaza – not the result of a natural disaster but entirely man-made and avoidable...the tightening of israeli blockade since june 2007 has left the population, 1.5 million palestinians, trapped and with few resources...some 80 per cent depend on the trickle of international aid that the israeli government allows in...even patients in dire need of medical

continue to support human rights defenders in zimbabwe...

2008-08-14T06:28:00.004-05:00

it's a cycle of beatings, jailings, intimidation,—the continued harassment of human rights defenders in zimbabwe must come to an end...as violence spread throughout zimbabwe following the initial round of presidential elections, members of the women’s rights organization, women of zimbabwe arise! (woza), appealed to regional authorities to help end the crisis...as woza members peacefully

anwar ibrahim continues campaign despite questionable charges...

2008-08-13T06:27:00.005-05:00

malaysian opposition leader anwar ibrahim is free on bail after pleading not guilty to charges of sodomy...according to media reports, his next hearing is on 10 september...anwar has declared that the charges will not stop his campaign for a parliamentary seat as part of an effort to dislodge the barisan nasional, malaysia’s ruling coalition since the country’s independence in 1957...anwar is the

syrian prisoner of conscience gains freedom...

2008-08-12T06:41:00.003-05:00

syrian authorities unexpectedly released dr. aref dalilah last thursday following a presidential amnesty...dalilah is the former dean of the faculty of economics of aleppo university and was a well known prisoner of conscience in syria...dalilah was arrested in september 2001 and convicted by the state security court of "attempting to change the constitution by illegal means" in july 2002...he

argentina scraps military code of 1951...

2008-08-11T06:24:00.004-05:00

finally...last week more than 20 years after the end of argentina's sickening military junta of the mid-1980's used it injudiciously the argentine parliament voted to scrap the 1951 military code of justice, thus abolishing the death penalty in all cases and closing military courts of justice... argentina now joins the global trend towards total abolition of the death penalty... this move is

hamdan convicted at guantánamo...ultimate release date still uncertain...

2008-08-08T06:26:00.003-05:00

salim hamdan, a yemeni national, has been convicted by a panel of six u.s. military officers of "providing material support for terrorism", but acquitted of "conspiracy,"...the pentagon had, however, confirmed yesterday that he would remain in indefinite detention as an "enemy combatant" regardless of the verdict...amnesty international believes that the conviction under procedures that do not

all aboard...next stop: national conventions...

2008-08-07T06:17:00.004-05:00

denver and st. paul, get ready...get set... the guantanamo cell tour will visit the democratic and republican convention cities later this summer... after touring just four cities, thousands have visited the life size replica of a prison cell at guantanamo bay...check out the cell tour blog for images and video... but amnesty international usa needs our help to continue touring the cell

observations from guantánamo's military commission hearings...

2008-08-06T06:28:00.004-05:00

matt pollard, amnesty international’s latest trial observer at the recent military commission hearings at guantánamo bay, gives a sense of what it was like there...click here for matt's responses to what he's observed...peace out <3

film screenings of women of liberia: fighting for peace...

2008-08-05T06:28:00.003-05:00

as a result of the devastating wars liberia experienced between 1989 and 1997 and also between 1999 and 2003, over 200,000 people died and another half million liberians were displaced...liberian women, in record numbers, were confronted with unspeakable violence...women in liberia: fighting for peace is a documentary that follows the epic journey of five liberian women...amnesty international

women in mexico let down by failures in justice system...

2008-08-04T06:20:00.004-05:00

thousands of mexican women who survive violence in their homes are being put at risk of further abuse by a justice system that often fails to take their safety seriously...one in four women in mexico has suffered abuse at the hands of their partner...marcela was stabbed when her former husband broke into her house in the state of sonora in 2005...following the attack, she was paralyzed for four

media censorship in beijing: one more broken promise before olympics...

2008-08-01T06:18:00.003-05:00

yesterday amnesty international called on chinese authorities and international olympic committee (ioc) officials to fulfill media freedom commitments, following a statement wednesday by an ioc official indicating that the organization had caved in to china's demands on internet censorship...said mark allison, east asia researcher for amnesty international:"The International Olympic Committee and

the ioc caves in and endorses internet censorship during olympics..

2008-07-31T06:16:00.003-05:00

fracking frack frack frack frack frack! the international olympic committee (ioc) has said that there won't be uncensored internet access at olympic media venues...in a statement kevin gosper, ioc press commission chair, said: “I regret that it now appears BOCOG has announced that there will be limitations on website access during Games time (…). I also now understand that some IOC

climate of fear persists despite deal in zimbabwe...

2008-07-30T05:41:00.003-05:00

as the zimbabwean government and the opposition movement for democratic change (mdc) prepare to enter power-sharing talks, human ritghts groups including amnesty international called on both parties to ensure there are no pardons for those who committed human rights violations in the post-election period..."there can be no lasting political solution to the crisis in zimbabwe without addressing

more victories - tunisian journalist freed...

2008-07-28T06:18:00.003-05:00

slim boukhdir (no relation to slim whitman) was released last monday, 21 july, and informed that he had been granted a conditional release by the minister of justice...he was not given any further explanation...his release is apparently conditional on his “good behaviour”; if convicted of a similar crime he has been told he would have to serve out the rest of his sentence...slim boukhdir was

join me in celebrating human rights defenders...

2008-07-27T14:42:00.003-05:00

at the end of this week, hu jia and shi tao will celebrate their birthdays in prison...these human rights defenders were jailed for doing something most of us do every day--exercising their right to freedom of expression... celebrate the work of human rights defenders around the world by taking our quiz to find out what kind of activism you embody... are you focused on domestic issues like

forced disappearances in pakistan implausibly denied...

2008-07-26T12:17:00.003-05:00

“For us relief is only when our loved one is safe and sound standing freed before us. [...] I believe that my husband Masood is held only three kilometres from my home, yet he continues to suffer unknown ill-treatment and we, his wife, his children and his very old parents cannot even see him. They [the new government] must act now to bring them back immediately."- Amina Masood Janjua, July 2008

what will the chinese olympic legacy be?

2008-07-25T06:27:00.003-05:00

it's beginning is but 2 weeks away...will china fulfill its promise to improve human rights before the games?not when human rights defenders in china continue to face risk of harassment and arbitrary detention... ye guozhu, a human rights defender in beijing, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for taking action against forced evictions related to the olympics...amnesty

help stop violence against women in the democratic republic of congo...

2008-07-24T06:19:00.004-05:00

the conflict in the democratic republic of the congo (derc) has been a "war against women" in which thousands of women and girls have been subjected to rape and gender-based violence...these crimes are committed with the intent to destroy families and communities and are predominantly carried out by government soldiers, police, and armed group members...but perpetrators are rarely brought to

rock the vote 4 human rights - register today...

2008-07-22T06:31:00.004-05:00

there’s no better time to rock the vote for human rights than now! exercise the universal right to free and fair elections...this year marks the 60th anniversary of the declaration that enshrines human rights for all people and all nations – the universal declaration of human rights (udhr)...under article 21 of the udhr, everyone has the right to participate in government and open elections...

human rights: worth its weight in gold...

2008-07-21T06:10:00.004-05:00

i recently received a letter from former professional athlete john amaechi regarding china, human rights, and the olympics and wanted to share it with you...I am so proud to be going to the Olympic Games in Beijing next month as an Olympic Ambassador for Amnesty International.As a former pro athlete, I'm eager to see awe-inspiring world-class athletes competing for gold at the Summer Games. Yet I

long-awaited verdict in italy has its upside...

2008-07-17T05:43:00.004-05:00

the italian magistrates have held individuals accountable for the brutalities that occurred in the bolzaneto detention facility in genoa, italy...on july 20-21, 2001, the italian city of genoa hosted a g8 summit...it is estimated that over 200,000 people participated in anti-globalization demonstrations on the streets of genoa...by the end of the summit, one protester, carlo giuliani, had been

thanks for taking action to put human rights at the core of u.s. – mexico relations...

2008-07-15T06:20:00.004-05:00

thanks in large part to the overwhelming number of people like you who took action i am happy to report that human rights protections were included in congress' first installment of the merida initiative...u.s. funding to mexico and central america to help fight drug cartels and organized crime was signed into law by president bush last week and the most significant debate about the aid

thousands join human art event...

2008-07-14T06:50:00.003-05:00

a global day of action this past saturday 12 july used human aerial art to call on the chinese authorities to ensure a positive human rights legacy for the beijing olympics...thousands of amnesty international supporters from around the world teamed up with circle up now, to create large images on the ground which are only fully visible from above...from delhi to bamako and asunción, thousands of

sending a life-size message to china...

2008-07-11T06:21:00.003-05:00

from the wish you were here files...this week, thousands of amnesty international supporters will stand together as a visual message in support of human rights in china... for the honor of hosting the 2008 olympics, china promised that it would improve its human rights record...instead, china's human rights violations have increased in the months leading up to the games...their

two men imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression...

2008-07-10T05:37:00.004-05:00

this past weekend, it was probably no surprise to see celebrations and symbols of independence – bar-b-ques…fireworks…flags...but in indonesia, the simple act of waving a flag cost two men their freedom...shots were fired into a crowd as the morning star flag, a symbol of independence in the papua province of indonesia, was raised during a commemorative ceremony in december 2004...the

urge turkey to respect lgbt people's right to freedom of association...

2008-07-09T06:29:00.003-05:00

so recently a local court in istanbul ordered the closure of the turkish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender solidarity organization, lambda istanbul...the court ruled on 29 may in favour of a complaint by the istanbul governor's office that lambda istanbul's objectives were against turkish "moral values and family structure"...an appeal challenging this ruling is currently pending...in recent

tasers are abused here in the good ol' u.s. of a...

2008-07-08T05:53:00.003-05:00

since june 2001, more than 290 individuals in the united states have died after being struck by police tasers...human rights groups such as amnesty international are concerned that tasers are being used as tools of routine force, rather than as weapons of last resort...rigorous, independent, impartial study of their use and effects is urgently needed...for lots of background info and too many

need stronger witness protection needed to ensure accountability for war crimes...

2008-07-07T05:40:00.004-05:00

the deportation from the u.k. of sri lankan national vinayagamoorthi muralitharan, known as karuna, who is alleged to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka is, to say the least, disappointing...he was deported following his conviction on immigration charges...the deportation of karuna now means that the investigation by the u.k. authorities into these allegations has